Machine for attaching buttons



March 28, 1933. F, N R055 [L -1- AL 1,903,269

MACHINE FOR ATTAGHING BUTTONS Filed Jan. l2, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENToRs. FWEoE/P/c/f N. Foss, BY PWM/mw 1P. wfg/TE.

` ATTORNEYS March 28, 1933. F. Ross Er AL 1,903,259

MACHINE FOR ATTACHING BUTTONS v Filed Jan. 12, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet MW i IN VEN TOR .5. FREDERIC/f lV. Posa. BY FWHM/rb l/v WH/ T E.

I@ VH/14M V 7M@ A TT ORNE Y.

March 28, 1933.

` F. N. ROSS ET AI.

MACHINE FOR ATTACHING BUTTONS Filed Jan. l2, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEYS March 28, 1933. F. N. Ross Er AL MACHINE FOR ATTACHING BUTTONS 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 12, 1931 INVENTORJ. F/PE'DE/wc/r /V. F05 .5. BY FWHM/mm R M01/TE.

A TTORNE YJ.

March 28, 1933. F. N. Ross Er AL MACHINE FOR ATTACHING BUTTONS Filed Jan. 12, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FEEDER/CK N. P035. BY F'fP//v/rL/NR WHITE,

. ATTORNEYS.

.tion between the machine and hopper.

Patented Mar. 28, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FREDERICK N. ROSS, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, .AND FRANKLIN R. W'EITE, OF WATER- BURY, CONNECTICUT, ASSIG-NORS TO THE PATENT BUTTON COWOF WATERBURY, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT i MACHINE FOR ATTACHING BUTTONS Application led January 12, 1931. Serial No. 508,033.

This vinvention relates to a machine for attaching buttons to work such as fabric or the like, and has to do especially with an 11nproved construction incorporating a suitable sewing machine, a button feeder such as a hopper, and means for controlling the passage of buttons to sewing position. The particular association between the sewing machine and the hopper isl one of the important features, and in connection with this a particular type of button chute is provided, so constructed as to accommodate for the associa mechanism is provided near the sewing position for advancing the buttons from a point where they are conducted by the chute `to sewing position, and this structure may include a linder for positioning the button so' that its holes are properly located. This button advancing structure is of improved quick-acting type of mechanism. These several new features enter into a machine of improved operation. As the detailed description progresses a fuller appreciation of the mentioned new features and also others with their objects will be more definitely appreciated.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the machine with many of the parts illustrated in full and dotted lines depicting different posir tions which these parts take in their operation.

Fig. 2 is a front view of the saine.'

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevational view illustrating more clearly some of the structural parts near sewing position, and also illustrating the button chute.y

Fig. 4 is an enlarged front view with some parts in section. A a

Fig. 5 is a detail illustrating the button release associated between the hopper and chute.

Fig. 6 is a rdetail showinga walking cam structure for controlling the advancement means.

Fig. 7 is a detail view, withsome parts in section, of the advancement means and finder showing these parts in more detail and looking from a direction opposite that of Fig. 3. Fig. 8 is a plan view of the presser foot. In Fig. 1 there is shown a sewing machine 1 having a sewing head 2, needle 3, work table at 4f. The operator preferably sits at the left hand side of the structure shown in Fig.

l facing the machine; in other words, the

operator is located somewhat in the position of the observer of Figs. 2 and 4:. The particular mechanism inside the sewing machine is not shown or described herein, as any standard sewing machine will suce. Suitable means (not shown) is provided for control by the operator to stop and start the sewing machine as desired. v

A suitable button hopper is shown as having a button-holding compartment 5, a hopper base 6 and a rotatable hopper member or cup Z with a manually controllable part 8.

The hopper or cup 7 is mounted upon a rotatable shaft 9, which may be rotated by power as by means of a belt 10, and the power may be derived from the sewing machine mechanism as by means of belt 11. Accordingly, when the sewing machine operates, the hopper 7 rotates. The selecting rings in the base and rotatable part of the hopper discharges the buttons into a chute or trough 12 wherein the buttons stack up as illustrated in Fig.

2. While the element 12 is in reality a chute it will be termed a trough here, because we have another element to which the term chute is to be applied. l l

The hopper has been mounted as shown for facilitating not only its manual actuation by the operator, but so that the operator has a direct view at all times in order to See that buttons are being fed. In other words, by referring to Fig. 2, it'will be noted that the operator has a direct view of the buttons stacked in trough 12. It is advantageous, however, in hopper construction that the buttons, which are slightly concavo-convex be fed into the trough l2 so that the backs of the buttons are out toward the operator. This comes about by reason of the slot construction 1n the hopper selecting rings. However, if the buttons were fed directly to `sewing positlon from the trough l2 they would be upside down. To meet this problem the button chute 100 15 which leads from trough 12 to a point near sewing position, has a twist-as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 3-of substantially 180o which reverses the buttons as they slide down this chute. Thus the buttons are turned right side up as they slide down the hopper to a position ready to be advanced to the sewing needle.

At this point the means for discharging the buttons from trough 12 to chute 15 singly may be described. By referring to Fig. 5 and also Fig. 3, there will be seen a pivotally mounted stop member 16 in the form of a plate having a projecting finger 17. A spring 18 is arranged to normally hold this plate so that a stud or pin carried by the plate shown at 19 is held into a recess 20 in which position the lowermost button in the trough 12 rests upon this pin. Pivotally mounted upon the plate is an arm 21 having a pin 22 arranged to move into a slot 23, and this arm is acted upon by a spring 24. Spring 18 is stronger than spring 24, however, so that as spring 18 holds the plate 16 in its normal position,

spring 24 is distended by reason of a stud 25a on the plate contacting with arm 21 thus holding the arm in position so that the pin 22 is out of slot 23. The normal position of these parts is illustrated in Fig. 4, while their i two extreme positions are illustrated in Fig. 5.

There is a pivotally mounted bell crank member 25 having one arm overlying proj ection 17, and as this bell crank is actuated the plate 16 is rocked counterclockwise, (as Fig. 5 is viewed) this moves the pin 19 out from underneath the lowermost button and drops it down the chute 15. At the same time, however, pin 22 moves into slot 23 so as to retain the buttons stacked up in the trough. On rel turn movement pin 22 releases the buttons and all the buttons in the trough dropped down t0 a point determined by a pin 19 which supports the lowermost button. In this way the buttons are singly fed from the hopper to` the chute. The bell crank may be operated by a rod 26 connected tfo the button advancing means at point 27 (Fig. 4) so that the buttons are fed in unison with the operation of the button advancing means. It is to be apprev ciated that there is a rather close or fine movement in the plate 16, arm 21 and associated parts, and it is for this reason that the arm 21 is spring controlled and not connected rigidly with the plate. This permits of allowing the bell crank 25 to push the arm 17 down with a movement which need not be finely adjusted, and when the. pin 22 strikes the bottom of slot 23 it will stop, and the result is that spring 24 permits further movement of the plate. Thus there is lost play permitted and eliminates the necessity of fine or accurate adjustment for obtaining a nicety of action in the button feeding means.

The buttons slide down the chute singly and are stopped at the end, or near the end by spring pressed stop members or plungers 30 (Fig. 8). The chute 15 is pivotally mounted at its upper end as at 31, and it is normally held depressed by. means of a spring 32 associated with a plunger or bolt 34 reciprocab y mounted in a stationary bracket 35, the purpose of which will presently appear.

For advancing the buttons from the end of the chute l5 to a sewing position there is a swinging advance member 40 pivotally mounted, as at 4l, to which there is connected a rod 42 provided with an abutment 43. hack of which is a normally ineffective compression spring 44. The member 40 is normally held in its rear position as shown in Fig. l by a spring 45. Carried by this arm is a rotatable linder 46 having a gear 47 which meshes with a stationary rack 48 so that when the member 40 rocks the finder is rotated. rThis finder is capable of sliding in its mounting being held normally down by a spring 50. rThe rocking carriage also has a button engaging means consisting of a member 52, and a spring 53. lVhen the finder is in its rear or normal position the butt-on .in the chute underlies the tinder but is spaced therefrom. Now it will be noted that if thc chute is raised the button will be brought up against the finder, and if the holes in the button do not align with the finder points 54 the same will be moved up against the action of the spring 50. However, as the rocking carriage is moved to sewing position the finder rotates, the button is held from rotation from the members 52 and 53 until the finder points 54 align with holes in the button, and then when the button is moved to sewing position its holes are properlv positioned.

A presser foot has a chute portion, but this presser foot is normally held down against the work table by a spring 61. Suitable means are provided for lifting the presser foot. This may be done by a foot treadle 62 connected by rod 63 to lever 64 arranged to elevate a rod 65 in the sewing head. As shown in Figs. 4, 6 and 7, rod 65 has a projection 66 underlying the end 67 of a forked member 68 connected to the presser foot as at 69. Accordingly, when the presser foot is raised its chute portion rst comes into alignment with the chute 15, then upon further raising of the presser foot chute 15 is raised and the button engaged by the swinging carriage, or rother the finder on the carriage. After this the carriage moves on its pivot mounting from the dotted line position of Fig. 3 to the full line position of Fig. 3 carrying with it the button, and positioning the button in sewing location, at which"'time the finder also positions the button eyes. In this movement the button is forcibly moved past the spring pressed stop 30 into the chute of the presser foot where it is again engaged by spring pressed stops 70.

The means for moving the carriage or button advancing means will now'be described. As the operator rocks the treadle 62 an arm 71 on the lever 64, which is sleeved onto rod 42, moves from the dotted line position of Fig. l substantially to the full line position compressing spring 44. 'An element which we term the walking cam however prevents the carriage from rocking underA the action of spring 44 until substantially the final movement. By referring to Fig. 6 it will be noted that there is an abutment 72' carried by the rocking carriage, and there is another abutment 7 3 carried by the rod 65. is the rod 65 is raised abutment 7 3 raises and it moves into the path ofthe abutment 72 thus preventing carriage movement even though spring 44 is being compressed. 's `the rod 65 raises the presser foot is raised in alignment with the chute 15, the chute is lifted and the button on the end of the chute is caused to be engaged by theinder, and when these parts are properly positioned the abutment 78 moves up above the abutment 72 and out oi its path Now the carriage is moved forward with a quick action by the spring 44 thus quickly positioning the button (Fig. 7). rlihe operator now shifts the treadle to restore the parts and the button positioned in the presser foot is moved down against the work on the table as shown in the dotted lines of Figs. l and 3, and of course the arm 71 moves to release the compression o spring 44 thus permitting the lighter spring 45 to retract the swinging carriage. This cannot be done however for the walking cam construction; as the parts are restored, the abutment 73 moves dowri and again blocks abutment 72 but from the rear thereof. However, when the rod 65 has moved substantially all the way down the abutment' 73 again clears abutment 72 and the swinging carriage is moved back with a quick snap action by spring 45.

In theoperation of the machine suitable means (not shown) are provided for the operation to control the time periods of the sewing operation, and after a button is sewn to the work the machine may be stopped, and it is at this time that the treadle 62 is shifted, which as above described, causes movement of the parts to carry a button from the end of the chute 15 to a sewing position; then after the new button is positioned, the treadle may be again shifted or permitted to shift of its own volition if spring action is incorporated, to restore the parts to the first position whereupon the machine may be again operated. It will be appreciated that each time the carriage goes through acycle of movement a button is caused to be detached from a group of buttons stacked up in the trough 12.

Accordingly, it will be seen that an operator is in a position to have full view of the hepper and within easy reach of the movable ein part of the operator so that the hopper 7 may be actuated or manipulated by hand in the event there is jamming of the buttons -or the like. 'To take care of this disposition 01E the hopper in relation to the sewing machine,

tioning the buttons properly for the oiiowing operation. Some buttons are convex so that the same hopper construction may be used but will-feed the button in a reverse manner. With these buttons a straight or non-twisted chute may be used. rlhus it is that buttons either convex or concave may be handled by the same hopper and merely a change of chutes will etect a proper positioning of them.

We claim:

1. In a button attaching machine,vthe combination of a sewing head, supporting means therefor extending to the rear of the sewing head away from the side of the sewing head where an operator is adapted to sit, a button hopper having a base and having a rotatable hopper part disposed on a horizontal axis substantially paralleling said sewing head support and extending toward and away from the operator and with the rotatable part positioned toward the operator, said hopper being arranged to feed the buttons so that the buttons lie in a substantially vertical plane substantially perpendicular to said axis and directly before the operator, and a twisted chute extending from the hopper to a point near sewing position for turny ing the buttons substantially through 180 J as vthey pass through the chute. v

' 2. In a button attaching machine, the combination of a sewing head, a hopper having a trough into which the Vbuttons are fed, a chute leading from the trough to a point near sewing position, a carriage for positively 'moving the buttons singly from said point to sewing position, and means operating in unison with the carriage for selecting single chute leading from the trough to a point l near sewing position, a carriage for moving the buttons singly from said point to sewing position with positive action, means operating in unison with the carriage for selecting single buttons from said trough, said chute being twisted to reverse the buttons as they pass through the chute.

4. A button attaching machine, comprising in combination a sewing head, a hopper to feed buttons, a trough associated with the hopper for receiving the buttons, a chute for conveying buttons from the hopper to a point near sewing position, a swinging carriage having means for advancing the button from said point to sewing position, and means connected to the carriage to operate in unison therewith for selecting buttons singly from said trough and depositing them in the chute.

5. A button attaching machine, comprising in combination a sewing head, a hopper to feed buttons, a trough associated with the hopper for receiving the buttons, a chute for conveying buttons from the trough to a point near sewing position, a swinging carriage having means for advancing the button from said point to sewing position, and means connected to the carriage to operate in unison therewith for selecting buttons singly from said trough and depositing them in the chute, said chute being ositioned so that the selected buttons travelpdown the same by gravity, and said chute being twisted to reverse the position of the buttons as they pass through the chute.

6. In a button selecting means, the combination of a trough or the like for holding stacked buttons, a chute in alignment with the trough, a movable element having a stop for supporting the buttons in the trough, means for moving the movable element to position the stop for button release,` anv arm pivoted to said movable element having a button stop, means on said element for engaging said arm to hold the button stop on the arm out offbutton engagement, and a spring connecting the arm and element for moving the arm into button-stopping position as the element is moved to shift its button stop out of button-holding position.

7. In a button selecting means, the combination of a trough or the like for holding stacked buttons, a chute in alignment with the trough, a movable element having a stop for supporting the buttons in the trough, means for moving the movable element to position the stop for button release, an arm pivoted to said mqvable 'member having a button stop, means on said element for en/ gaging said arm to hold the button stop on the arm out of button engagement, and a spring connecting the arm and element for moving the arm into button-stopping position as the element is moved to shift its button stop out of button-holding position, means for limiting the movement of the arm, the said spring serving to ermit continued movement of said mova le element after the movement of the arm has been stopped. v

8; A button selecting mechanism comprising in combination, a trough for holding stacked buttons, a chute in alignment with the trough, a pivoting plate having a stop member for supporting the buttons, an arm pivoted to the plate having a button stop member, means for holding the arm out of button-stopping position when the plate is in button-stopping position, means for rocking the plate to release the button, and a spring connecting the plate and arm for shifting the arm into button-stopping position.

9. A button selecting mechanism comprising in combination a trough for holding stacked buttons, a chute in alignment with the trough, a pivoting plate having a stop member for supporting the buttons` an arm pivoted to the plate having a button stop member, means for holding the arm out of button-stopping position when the plate is in button-stopping position, means for rocking the plate to release a button, and a spring connecting the plate and arm for shifting the arm into button-stopping position, the button stops on the plate and arm, respectively, being spaced apart lengthwise of the trough and chute a distance substantially equal to the diameter of a button.

10. In a button attaching machine, the combination of a sewing head, means for conveying buttons to a point near the sewing head, a rockable carriage, spring means for rocking the carriage for shifting a button from said point to sewing position, and means for timing the operation of the spring.

11. A button attaching machine. comprising in combination a sewing head, means for conveying buttons to a point near the sewing head, al presser foot having button-guiding means, means for moving the presser foot into position to guide a button from said point to sewing position, a movable carriage for moving the button from said point to sewing position, spring means for moving the carriage being normally ine'ective, means for placing the spring under tension as the presser foot is moved into button-guiding position, and timing means for releasing the carriage for movement after the spring means lhave been placed under tension.

12. A button attaching machine, comprising in combination a sewing head, means for conveying buttons to a point near the sewing head, a presser foot having button-guiding means, means for moving the presser foot into position to guide a button from said point to sewing position, a movable carriage for moving the button from said point to sewing position, spring means for moving the carriage being normally ineffective, means for placing the spring under tension as the presser foot is moved into button-guiding position, and a walking cam construction for blocking the carriage nfrom movement during spring tension and for releasing the vcarriage for movement after the spring is placed under tension.

13. A button attaching machine, comprising in combination a sewing head, means for conveying buttons to a point near the sewing head, a shiftable carriage for transferring the buttons from said point to sewing position, normally ineffective spring means for moving the carriage, a presser foot arrangement to guide buttons as they are moved by the carriage, said presser foot being normally positioned out of button guiding position, means for moving the presser foot into position to guide a button from the said point to sewing position, a stop member on the carriage, another stop member associated with the presser foot moving means for blocking the movement of the carriage as the presser foot is moved to button guiding position, means for compressing said spring as the presser foot is so moved, said blocking means associated with the presser foot being arranged to block carriage movement during spring compression, and said block associated with the presser foot being arranged to move out of blocking position upon completion of the movement of the presser foot into button-guiding position tovpermit carriage movement under action of the spring.

14; A button attaching machine comprising in combination a sewing head, means for conveying buttons to a point in close proximity to the sewing head, ashiftable carriage for shifting buttons from said point to sewing position, normally ineffective spring means for shifting the carriage, a presser foot movable into position to guide buttons as they are shifted by the carriage,

mea-ns for-placing the spring means under tension as the presser foot is moved to guiding position, and means for releasing the carriage to be acted upon by said spring means upon completion of presser foot movement into button guiding position. l'

15. In aj button attaching machine, the combination of a sewing head, a shiftable carriage fortransferring buttons to sewing position, spring means normally holding the carriage at one end of its movement, spring means for moving the carriage against the action of the first mentioned spring means but said second named spring means being normally ineffective, means for placing the second named spring means under tension, and timing means for controlling the movements of the carriage under the power of both spring means.

16. In a button attaching means, the combination of a sewing head, a swinging carriage for transferring buttons to a sewing position, vspring means normally holding the carriage away from sewing position, normally ineffective spring means for moving the' carriage to sewing position, means for rendering the second named spring means effective, and carriage blocking means for blocking the carriage against movement by either spring and releasable in timed relation to permit carriage movement by either spring.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures.

FREDERICK N. ROSS. FRANKLIN R. WHITE. 

